Richo humbled by induction

By
TERRY MORRIS

RICHMOND hero Matthew Richardson said this week's elevation into the AFL Hall of Fame had left him feeling ``humbled and honoured''.

RICHMOND hero Matthew Richardson said this week's elevation into the AFL Hall of Fame had left him feeling ``humbled and honoured''.

Matthew Richardson

The 39-year-old was one of six former players inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony at Crown Casino in Melbourne.

``You look at the names of those in the Hall of Fame and they were the players I grew up watching and reading about,'' he said.

``Now I'm part of it and it is something I will look forward to dearly every year.''

Drafted from Devonport as a father-son selection in 1992, Richardson said it was very satisfying to have his whole family with him at the induction ceremony.

Richardson's father Alan ``Bull'' Richardson played 110 VFL games with Richmond and South Melbourne before coming to Tasmania to coach East Devonport.

Richardson said his proud father had enjoyed the induction ceremony, taking the chance to catch up with former Richmond teammate Francis Bourke and Geelong opponent Doug Wade.

AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick presented Richardson and the other inductees with their Hall of Fame certificates.

Joining Richardson are Western Bulldogs forward Brad Johnson, Carlton's Anthony Koutoutfides, South Australians Andrew McLeod and Warren Tredrea and the late Ern Henfry, who played with Perth and Carlton.

``The Hall of Fame evening is a pure football night with guys like Leigh Matthews in the audience,'' Richardson said.

``It will be good to go along and catch up with so many great players in the future,'' he said.

Richardson retired from playing in 2009 after 282 games and 800 goals for the Tigers and since then he has built a busy media career.

``This week I will be at Geelong and Carlton on Friday night, the Giants and Essendon and on Monday Melbourne and Collingwood for Channel 7 and Radio 3AW.''

Richardson is a member of both the Richmond and Tasmanian Teams of the Century and was selected as an All-Australian three times.

He was Richmond's leading goal kicker 13 times and in 2007 won the Jack Dyer Medal as the club's best and fairest.